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Edgartown Police Investigating Alleged Hate Crime

Edgartown police are searching for two or three men allegedly involved in an assault Saturday night that is being considered a hate crime, police said Monday.

According to Det. Sgt. Christopher Dolby, the victim was a 23-year old man who works in Edgartown. The man was riding his bicycle at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday on Edgartown-West Tisbury Road near the State Forest when “two or three guys jumped out from a vehicle and knocked him off his bike,” Detective Sergeant Dolby said. “Fifteen minutes later a car drove by and stopped because they thought something didn’t look right. They asked him if he was alright and he didn’t answer so they called 911.”

Edgartown police and an ambulance responded, Det. Sgt. Dolby said, and the victim was transported to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Det. Sgt. Dolby said the victim was treated and released later that night.

The assailants allegedly made derogatory comments regarding the victim’s sexual orientation, classifying the assault as a hate crime, Det. Sgt. Dolby told the Gazette. The investigation is ongoing, and “there are a couple things for the detectives to look into.”

Edgartown Police Monday posted information about the assault on the department’s Facebook page. “Facebook has generated leads and resulted in arrests and convictions of criminal matters. Most law enforcement agencies use it now and it’s becoming an invaluable tool,” Det. Sgt. Dolby said.

Police are asking anyone who may have any information about the case to contact the Edgartown Police Department at (508) 627-4343 or call or text their anonymous tip line at (774) 310-1190.

Comments (4)

VeryAnnoyed, Vineyard Haven

All crimes are hate crimes! I cannot understand why certain members of society get preferential treatment because of the color of their skin or sex orientation. Crimes against the people are Hate Crimes! It takes hate to hurt someone regardless of their standing in society.

So right. Ignore the Orwellian responses you have received that say, essentially, "all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." A hate crime is a thought crime, plus a crime. The heinous nature of certain crimes speak for themselves. In particular, the two crimes for which thought crime legislation is named-- Byrd and Shepard-- should qualify the perps for the death penalty regardless of what was going through their tiny brains at the time.

"Hate crime" generally refers to criminal acts that are seen to have been motivated by BIAS against one or more of the types (ethnicity, gender identity, language, nationality, physical appearance, religion, or sexual orientation). Incidents may involve physical assault, damage to property, bullying, harassment, verbal abuse or insults, or offensive graffiti or letters (hate mail).
This is NOT the same as domestic violence, fraud and other acts against another individual. The notion that anyone is getting "preferential treatment" here is absurd.

So if an individual that is prone to violent acts punches you in the nose for no discernible reason - that is somehow preferable to someone punching you in the nose because they take issue with your religion or ethnicity?